JSTK Special Edition: Resume Faux Pas
Why are these things wrong? Besides typos, that is.
General Objectives
Best not to put these on at all. If you do use this, have a very specific field or position in mind.
Passive Prose
Resumes should be active, not passive, and not third person. Generally you use a modified version of standard sentence structure and avoid using pronouns. "Reduced waste by 20% in 1 month" is acceptable. "Mr Jones demonstrated his skill at reducing waste" is not. The more text, the less likely someone will read it, so make that white space work for you.
Discrimination
It's a fact of life, and sometimes not intentional, but it exists. Don't overshare information that could cause you to be filtered out. Yes, it's illegal, but it happens, so don't set yourself up. Any information on appearance, likes, dislikes, marital status, hobbies, etc. can result in you not being considered. That picture you think looks great could appear psychotic to someone else, and that's not even getting into ageism or racism.
I recently saw a resume that referenced someone's sideline efforts to fund a film on a religious figure. It had nothing to do with the job the resume was submitted for, so it doesn't belong on a resume. If you were applying for a funding position related to film, sure. Otherwise, no. When in doubt, don't include it.
Private Information
Never, ever provide your social security number to ANYONE unless it's someone who should have it, and legally requires it. In relation to jobs, if you haven't been offered the position, don't provide it.
Reference Information
It is assumed that if you get to the point of being seriously considered for a position, don't provide it on resumes. You're oversharing someone else's information that doesn't belong on a resume. If you're name dropping, do it in the cover letter, not in the resume
Logos
These just clutter up a page, just like inappropriate use of copyright and trademark symbols. It's distracting and looks unprofessional. It can also mess up scanning your resume into the system, which can prevent you from being considered for positions
If you're feeling sheepish because you've committed one or more of these faux pas, take heart in knowing some of the guilty parties are very highly qualified professionals who should know better.
[EDIT] Forgot one. Don't have your Significant Other, or family member field your resume or make calls for you, unless they've been asked to get it from you. This does not make a good impression at all.





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